Monday 30 March 2009

Short Stories Weekends: Pixel Pixies by Charles de Lint


If you're anything like me - fantastic fiction lover (and by fantastic I mean anything to do with supernatural stuff) - but not so much into short stories, do yourself a favour. Grab Tapping the Dream Tree by Charles de Lint. It's a collection which I haven't finished yet, but it has already earned my unconditional love.


I'm particularly glad I joined "Short Story Weekends" so I can talk about the latest story I've read, "Pixel Pixies", without having to wait to finish the whole book. Because I think I've just read one of my favourite short stories ever!
It's about Holly, a second-hand bookstore owner, who one day has the misfortune of having to do with pixies. But not ordinary traditional pixies. These kind have taken over the world wide web! It's also about the bookstore's brownie Dick Bobbins, who during the day lives in the basement reading books, and at night comes out to keep the store tidy.
I've already mentioned 3 main reasons why I was so captivated by the story:
1)A second-hand bookstore owner as main character.
2) A second-hand bookstore brownie who realphabetizes books at night.
3) Pixies on the web.
Just this would have been enough for me to get all hyped about it. But it doesn't just do that. It follows up bringing in the game another awesome character, which I won't name because I didn't know who she was and I loved the surprise.
It carries on portraying one of the cutest brownie I've ever read about AND it finishes with a wonderful hopeful exciting ending.

Ok I know it was only a little story, simple and cute. But it seemed perfectly tailored for me! I kept going "ohhh", "ahhhh" "cool" "awww", and so on till the end.

It also rekindled my desire to, one day, open my own bookstore, which I dreamed about of here, not too long ago :)
I might even get my own brownie if I'm lucky :D

10 comments:

Jill said...

I loved this one, too! I pulled out one of his other anthologies in preparation for next weekend's story. And yes, who wouldn't want to run a book store like that? :-)

Kailana said...

I wish I had a Charles de Lint book for short story weekends... I don't need anymore short story collections, though, I suppose!

Cath said...

Ooooh! I think I'm definitely going to have to order this anthology. Not that I really need more short story books *or* more De Lint! 8-S

Cath said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Good luck getting your very own bookshop and brownie! I haven't read this collection yet, but do love Charles de Lint. I loved his Waifs and Strays collection and will eventually read everything I can find by him!

Ana S. said...

Okay, grab it I shall :D

About the bookstore, we should totally go into business together :P

valentina said...

Darla, isn't Charles de Lint perfect for this challenge? I can't wait to read the next story:)

Kailana, you can never have to many Charles de Lint's books so...:P

Cath, go for it :D

Rhinoa, I know I'm going end up reading everything by him too!

Nymeth, I agree. We would be the bestest booksellers ever!:D

Shelley said...

THanks for the suggestions! I really need to discover de Lint. I was browsing his books at the library the other day.

marineko said...

I haven't read Pixel Pixies yet, but I've met these characters in "Spirits in the Wires", I believe. I love them! I work in a bookstore (and dream of opening my own one day), and have wanted a brownie ever since I read de Lint!

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